By James Goydar

Knockout CP Freshmart defeated Byron Rojas for the second time to defend his WBA 105lbs title on Thursday afternoon in Thailand. But it was a totally forgettable fight with both men more interested in fouling than punching.

Despite warning both fighters numerous times the referee never deducted a point. Possibly because they were both so intent on hugging, holding, throwing low blows or leading with the head that it was difficult to assign blame.

Knockout tried to establish his jab in the opening round but there was very little clean work coming from either man. This pattern continued in the third which consisted almost entirely of clinching with very little actual boxing.

In the third Knockout actually succeeded in punching his opponent a few times. He landed a series of hooks and uppercuts to the body but the following round saw more clinching, although Rojas did land a left hook at the start of the fifth.

In the sixth round Knockout started to let his hands go and backed Rojas up against the ropes with a quick combination. The challenger answered with some quick punches of his own but was on the receiving end of some hard shots to the body.

Rojas landed a jab at the start of the seventh and Knockout countered with a left hook. The Nicaraguan then thrust his shoulder into the champion’s face as the two fighters clinched and was warned for use of the head by the referee.

At some stage during the seventh round Rojas was cut by the right eye. Replays suggested it had been caused by a clash of heads he instigated himself, but it continued to trouble him for the remainder of the fight.

Knockout was warned in the ninth for low blows and received another talking to in the 11th for leading with his head. The referee intervened again in the final round to talk to the champion, who was coming in with his head very low and wrapping both hands round Rojas’ waist to tie the challenger up.

At the end of the fight Knockout celebrated but the applause from the audience outside Chonburi Town Hall was distinctly muted. The judges scored the bout slightly wider than the first fight with the card reading 115-113, 117-111 and 116-112 in the champion’s favour.

Knockout improves to 19-0 but the WBA 105lbs won’t enhance his reputation with performances like this. Rojas drops to 25-4-3 and sees his eight fight winning streak snapped after dropping a decision to the Thai for the second time.